The best holiday gifts for kids in the kitchen

There’s always so much chatter about kids being picky, but lots of kids love cooking. And even many, um, selective eaters enjoy a good kitchen project too, you know, if it’s making cupcakes and not kale. Understandable. Whether you have a foodie kid or just a little one who loves being in the kitchen with you, these gifts for kids in the kitchen make great holiday gifts and stocking stuffers.

And who knows, maybe some of these will inspire picky eaters to be more adventurous—or at least to help you with dinner duty. Or, fine, inspire them to bake another batch cookies. We won’t complain.

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More Cool Mom Eats holiday gift guides:
* Coffee gifts for the caffeine obsessed.
* Gifts for the cook who has everything.
* 19 of the best food gifts for everyone on the list, from your foodie friend to hungry uncle.
* The best boozy gifts for drinkers, swillers, and tasters.
* The most gorgeous hostess gifts for cooks under $50.

No Kid Hungry Kai My First Knife

Lots of companies have tried making a first knife, but it turns out that making a knife that is safe and sharp is no easy feat. Finally, there’s one that fits the bill and it’s no wonder that it’s made by Kai, one of Japan’s leading cutlery makers. Plus, for every knife sold, 30% of the proceeds will be donated to No Kid Hungry. ($34.99, Williams-Sonoma)

Le Petit Chef Finger Guard

This may be more of a stocking stuffer than a full-fledged gift, but if you’re going to hand over a kitchen knife, these finger guards are in order, too. ($4.95, Opinel)

Back to the Roots Growing Gift Set

Back to the Roots makes several cool grow-your-own products and you can get them all in this gift set. At $99.99, though, it’s best for kids who’ve shown a bonafide interest in growing. Otherwise, you can buy any of the included items separately, from the $19.99 Mushroom Farm to the $59.99 Water Garden that doubles as a self-cleaning fish tank. Cool! ($99.99, Back to the Roots)

The Nerdy Nummies Cookbook

We’re big fans of Rosanna Pansino and her Nerdy Nummies channel, one of our favorite YouTube cooking shows for kids, and now she has a cookbook! This is an absolutely perfect gift for any kid who likes to geek out in the kitchen—literally. ($17.85, Amazon)

LEGO Figure and Bricks Candy Mold

More geeky kitchen gear—hooray! This fun candy mold set comes with 3 BPA-free silicone molds that can be used to make chocolate candies, gummies, jello, ice cubes, or even soap shaped like lego bricks and figures. This particular set comes with an Ebook for plenty of inspiration for how to use the molds. The gift for parents is that they are also dishwasher safe. ($7.49, Amazon)

Candy Craft Chocolate Pen

We love this for the kid who loves crafty kitchen projects. Because it doesn’t get any cooler than making stuff with chocolate. Mmm. ($24.95, Amazon)

Curious Chef 16-Piece Cupcake and Decorating Kit

Curious Chef has been making cooking gear for kids for a long time and they’ve put their expertise into curating kits that equip little chefs to take on discreet, manageable kitchen projects. And, cupcakes. Perfect! ($19.99, Amazon)

Mozzarella and Ricotta Cheese Making Kit

If you have a kid who’s moved on from the occasional baking project and is interested in getting more serious about cooking, this is a great beginner cheese-making kit. Don’t be scared: Even without a kit, making mozzarella and ricotta is easier than you might expect. They’ll get the hang of it in no time and then you get fresh cheese. Trust us: It’s a good arrangement. ($24.95, Amazon)